A Youth Round Table was held on 14 April 2021, which was a hybrid event held virtually on zoom and streaming live from Sekhukhune (learners and ex-learners) and Makana East (youth formation representatives engaged in local development). Below are the speakers bio’s, presentation and the link to view the recording of the event.

About the Speakers

Tessa Dooms

Tessa Dooms is a Director at the Rivonia Circle. She is a Sociologist, development practitioner and political analyst. Having started her career in academia, Tessa has worked in diverse sectors including government, NGOs and the private sector, where she did work that aligns the objectives of various institutions and programmes with developmental objectives for the advancement of Africa. She has 15 years experience as a development worker, trainer and researcher with expertise on governance, youth development and innovation, and has worked in over 10 African countries. In 2015 she was appointed to the National Planning Commission to advise the President on the implementation of the National Development Plan of South Africa. Tessa is a Trustee of the Kagiso Trust. She holds a Masters of Arts from the University of the Witwatersrand. 

Farai Mubaiwa

Farai is the Chief Partnerships Officer at the Youth Employment Service (YES). Prior to YES, Farai served as a project manager at The Aurum Institute, a leading African TB and HIV research and implementation institute. Before Aurum, she was an intern at the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA). She achieved a distinction for her MSc in the Political Economy of Emerging Markets at King’s College London. Prior to her Masters, she worked at Deloitte as an analyst for Strategy and Operations Consulting. Farai is the co-founder of the youth-led organization Africa Matters. Africa Matters empowers young Africans to lead through leadership skills, capacity building and community-impact projects.
Youth Employment Service Presentation

Chipo Hamukoma

Chipo Hamukoma is a Research Manager at Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator, responsible for some of Harambee’s key learning and knowledge streams, including creating income generating opportunities for youth in the space of micro-enterprise. She is an economist & policy strategist, passionate about optimising the conditions for human thriving. Her work focuses on understanding the policy building blocks of Africa’s future and helping governments and organisations solve complex problems. During Covid-19 she worked with organisations to forecast the trajectory of the crisis, designing, and dispersing a R5 million food security grant in Gauteng. She’s worked widely across the continent most notably in Morocco, South Africa, Nigeria, and Ghana. Previously, she led the research for the Brenthurst Foundation’s Future of African Cities Project and was an Assistant Lecturer at the Nelson Mandela School of Governance at the University of Cape Town.
Harambee Presentation

Patrick Mashanda

Patrick is a passionate Community Development professional who joined Ikamva Youth in 2012. He began his journey as a District Coordinator for Gauteng, and currently oversees all national programmes across the organisation. Patrick has worked as an educator and a researcher on educational and psychosocial issues in South Africa. He further extended his researching skills and worked for a SABC 2 talk show ‘Hola Ha Monate’. Patrick has been involved with International NGOs, working to empower children in his capacity of Project Manager for CARE Germany and Stars of Tomorrow. Patrick also co-founded Hope Warriors Children’s Charity, a community-based initiative aimed at helping children in Soshanguve. He has a B.A Honours Degree in Development Studies from the Midlands State University and he believes that education is a sure and sustainable way of emancipating the children and youth of Africa from the cycle of poverty.
Ikamva Youth Presentation 

Sizakele Mphatsoe

Sizakele is the Kagiso Trust Education Pillar Head who holds a BED Honours degree in Education, training and development from the University of Johannesburg. She is currently doing a Practitioner Certificate in Coaching Psychology (Post-Graduate). She has taught in a number of schools and has held a management positions such as the head of department and the Deputy Principal. She has 18 years teaching experience. During her teaching years, Sizakele has also been an active member and on leadership position in organised labour unions. Sizakele’s areas of expertise include, team building facilitation, strategic development, drawing and managing budget, project management, and problem-solving skills.
KT Education Pillar Presentation

Paul Smith

Paul Smith is the Kagiso Trust Local Government Support Head, whom has gained experience in the Local government consulting over the past 20 years through practical hands-on projects. He is grateful to be able to utilise his skills and experience in assisting Kagiso Trust, in finding meaningful solutions for Local Government. At Kagiso Trust we intend to make a significant difference to how Local Government functions and to positively influence their current sustainability challenges. Paul believes that “Radical Collaboration” is the most effective ways to improved local socio-economic development, we all need to burry the hatchet and get our hands dirty in solving local challenges and that starts with every one of us as individuals. What are we doing that will make a difference.
KT Local Government Presentation

Genius Mokgoadi

Is the Socio Economic Development (SED) Head, with 17 years of experience in various roles in the financial sector varying from Banks, Public Sector and Actuarial Business. Amassing a diverse range of experience within the risk, lending environment and business development cutting across-development, commercial and corporate finance.His previous role was within Kagiso Trust as a Business and Fund Manager involved in managing both Property and Agriculture business. The role included the Property Acceleration programme within the Property business and Agriculture deal origination, structuring and credit granting across all agri-segments using various funding instruments such as debt, hybrid products and has exposure in end-to-end transaction risk management, governance and compliance.Genius is passionate about ringing innovative solutions in tackling economic disparities as he realises  that ‘people  need real sustainable solutions to tackle economic challenges that they are faced with on day-to-day basis’.
Socio Economic Development Presentation

To view the Youth Round Table Dialogue click here.